What Does Under 4.5 Bookings Mean?

“Under 4.5 bookings” is a football betting market where you’re predicting that the match will have 4 bookings or fewer.

How Bookings Are Usually Counted

• Yellow card = 1 booking
• Red card = 2 bookings

(But a player receiving a second yellow → red still counts as 1 booking for the yellow + 2 bookings for the red = 3 total bookings.)

Your Bet Wins If:

The match ends with 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 bookings.

Your Bet Loses If:

The match has 5 or more bookings.

---

Team Example: Manchester City (Low-Card Team)

Manchester City are known for:

• High possession style
• Tactical pressing rather than rough tackles
• Fewer defensive duels
• Games with lower card totals

Scenario Example

Match: Manchester City vs Bournemouth
Market: Under 4.5 bookings

Match Bookings:

• Bournemouth: 2 yellow cards → 2 bookings
• Man City: 1 yellow card → 1 booking
  Total = 3 bookings

Result: Your Under 4.5 bookings bet wins (3 < 4.5).

---

Example Where the Bet Loses

Match: Chelsea vs Tottenham (a rivalry with high intensity)
Market: Under 4.5 bookings

Match Bookings:

• Chelsea: 2 yellows = 2 bookings
• Tottenham: 3 yellows + 1 red = 3 + 2 = 5 bookings
  Total = 7 bookings

Result: Your Under 4.5 bookings bet loses (7 > 4.5).

---

Why Choose Under 4.5 Bookings

This market is useful when you expect:

• A calm, low-intensity match
• Teams with low foul averages
• Referees with low-card tendencies
• Situations when one team dominates possession

---

Best Situations to Bet Under 4.5 Bookings

Matches with possession-dominant teams

• Example: Manchester City, Barcelona, PSG
  They foul less because they have the ball more often.

Non-rivalry matches

Derbies and high-emotion matches usually generate more cards.

Referees who give fewer cards

Some referees average 3–4 bookings per match.

Teams with disciplined defenses

Teams like:

• Brighton
• Real Sociedad
• Inter Milan
  tend to commit fewer reckless fouls.

Early-season fixtures

Players avoid risky tackles due to new fitness levels and desire to avoid suspensions.

---

Additional Realistic Match Examples

Example 1

Brentford vs Fulham
Bookings: 1 (Brentford) + 2 (Fulham) = 3 bookings
Under 4.5 wins

---

Example 2

Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla
Bookings: 3 (Atletico) + 2 (Sevilla) = 5 bookings
Under 4.5 loses
(Atletico matches often have many cards.)

---

Betting Tips for Under 4.5 Bookings

Check referee stats

If the referee averages under 4 yellows per game, Under 4.5 has value.

---

Check team discipline

Look at:

• Fouls per match
• Cards per match
• Aggressive defenders or midfielders

Teams with high pressing or weak defensive structure get more cards.

---

Avoid derbies or rivalry matches

Examples:

• Manchester United vs Liverpool
• Barcelona vs Real Madrid
• Inter vs Juventus

These games statistically exceed 4.5 cards regularly.

---

Slow-paced tactical matches are ideal

Matches with:

• One team dominating possession
• No relegation pressure
• Mid-table teams with nothing to lose

Usually have fewer cards.

---

Weather matters

Heavy rain = more fouls
Dry calm weather = fewer physical challenges
(Under 4.5 is better in calm weather.)

---

Injuries or suspensions

If teams are missing aggressive defenders or DMFs, card totals drop.

---

Final Summary

Under 4.5 bookings in football betting means predicting 4 or fewer total cards in a match. It is ideal for calm matches, teams with disciplined styles, or low-card referees. For example, a typical Manchester City match might end with only 2 or 3 cards, making this market a good choice. Always analyze referee stats, team discipline, match intensity, and rivalry status before betting.